Definition

dependent variable

Part of the Mathematics glossary:

A dependent variable is a variable whose value depends upon independent variable s. The dependent variable is what is being measured in an experiment or evaluated in a mathematical equation. The dependent variable is sometimes called "the outcome variable."

Next Steps

In a simple mathematical equation, for example:

a = b/c

the dependent variable, a , is determined by the values of b and c .

Here's a simple example:

A city planner needs to compare the number of drivers who go through red lights between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. with the number of drivers who do so between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. In this scenario, the time span is the independent variable and the difference in the number of drivers going through red lights during those time spans is the dependent variable.

This was last updated in March 2008
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

Related Terms

Definitions

  • independent variable

    - An independent variable is a variable that is manipulated to determine the value of a dependent variable s. (WhatIs.com)

  • bar graph

    - A bar graph is a pictorial rendition of statistical data in which the independent variable can attain only certain discrete values. (WhatIs.com)

  • point-to-point graph (line graph)

    - A point-to-point graph, also called a line graph, is a pictorial rendition of data in which specific values of a function are plotted as dots on a coordinate plane. (WhatIs.com)

Glossaries

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